Addressing-machine.



N0. 897,888. PATENTED SEPT. 8,1908. E. H. FREY. y

ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI; 10, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 897,888. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908. E. H. FREY.

ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 10, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ERNEST H. FREY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ADDRE SSING-MAQHINE To a/Z whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERNEST H. FREY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Addressing-Machines, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description7 such as will enable others skilled in the' art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its objects to provide an addressing machine or other printing machine in which printing cards are employed and in which the printing card is eX- posed and the address is visible to the Ioperator before the impression is made, and in which a co ying ribbon is employed by means of w ich the impression is made in lieu of the inking pads heretofore employed for the purpose.

The objects are further to provide means for storing the record cards in predetermined order, for conveying them to the printing ribbon and pressure lever in regular order, and after the impression has been made, for depositing them in succession in a corresponding order in a removable-case so that t ey can be immediatel replaced in their storage receptacle in t e same order in which they originally stood.

Furt-her objects of the invention are to provide simple mechanical means for automatically rotating the card conveyin device, for automatically feeding one .car at a time thereto, for stopping the feed when it is desired to produce more than one impression of a card, or a duplicate of any desired address, for withdrawing the used cardsl within the removable case, one at a time, for preventing the deposit of a fresh card therein until the withdrawing device is ready to act and for supporting and feeding the inking ribbon.

The invention consists further in the combination and arrangement of the various parts and construction of details as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure' 1 operator; Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Specification of Letters- Patent.

Application led June 10,

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 378,127.

the card withdrawing device by means of which the cards are drawn within the removable case; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the mainland lauxiliary ratchets by means of which the cardfeeding disk is rotated for one or more impressions; Fig. 8 is aif plan view of these ratchets Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of the frame of the machine showing the side elevation of the automatic ribbon feeding device; Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the feeding disk and storage receptacle, showing the adjustment for the thickness of the card, to prevent the passage from the receptacle of more than one card at a time.

In these views lis the frame ofthe machine which comprises a circular table having a supporting fiange 2 and upon this table is centrally pivoted the card conveyer or 'disk 3 which is provided with spaced openings or card spaces or receptacles 4 each of the size of the printing cards-and into which the cards are arranged to drop from the storage receptacle 4 upon the flat table and to be conveyed from thence to the inking ribbon and removable case by means of the rotation of the conveyer 3.

5 is the inking ribbon which is stretched over the cards 6 in turn as they lie in the openings 4 and is mounted upon spool bearings 7 at each side of the frame.

8 is the pressure lever which is ivoted'in a bearing 9 at the rim of the tab e and by means of this arm and the pad 10 thereon the ribbon is forced into contact with the envelop '11 which lies upon the ribbon and the impression is made.

The disk 3 is automatically rotated to bring each card in succession underneath the pressure lever by means of the ratchet wheel 12 centrally placed underneath the disk and having as man teeth as there are openings in the disk, an a long spring pawl 13 which is secured at 14 to the lower end of the pressure lever or arm. Each upward movement of this arm rotates the disk so as tobring a new opening underneath the strikin pad and thus offer a new printing card to t e effects of the blow. The pressure lever after being .projecting wholly beyond the teeth of the main ratchet wheel. This ratchet wheel is brought lup into engagement with the pawl 13 by means of the hand lever 18, whenever desired, otherwise, the spring 19 forces the vsecond ratchet wheel 17 out of engagement therewith.- The function of the second ratchet wheel is to disengage the pawl from the main ratchet wheel on alternate strokes and thus prevent the disk from turning until tha next teeth on both ratchet wheels coin c1 e.

The central ivot of the disk 3 is shown upon the flat ripb 20 and the main ratchet is integral with or secured to the disk 3, a central pin P passes through the disk, ratchets andA rib 20. The storage receptacle 4 is adapted to receive the printing cards lying flat and from this receptacle they fall by gravity in succession into the successively approaching openings. An adjustable vertlcal detent 21 in the wall of this receptacle prevents more than one card at a time from eing carried away by the rotation of the disk, and the form of construction shown is a simple one and comprises a bent spring strip .-compressible for elongation or shortenlng by means of a thumb screw 22. The cards are preferably of the same thickness as the feedmg disk.

The removable case 23 is inserted into an opening 24 in the side of the frame and is long enough to hold all the printing cards in the receptacle. IIt comprises a simple rectangular case with an open top and the cards are provided with lateral extensions 25, whic lie upon the edges of the case as shown in Fig. 6. The cards when they arrive over the opening 26 in the table are momentarily retained fromY dropping first at the. inner sides, by means of the bell crank attachment 28, pivoted underneath the table at 29 and operated by the ratchet teeth of the main ratchet 12 at the right moment. The teeth in this instance serve as cams to operate this retaining device. This device in connection with the shoulder 26 on the inner side of the opening holds the card flat, and permits the outer end to dro first. As soon as the card is released and angs upon the sides of the case an arm 30 is advanced which is provided with a ivoted hook or catcher 31, which engages t e card and withdraws it into the case to make room for another card.v This hook senss is locked from folding outwardly by means of the shoulders 32 and 33 on the hook and arm respectively but when the arm moves forward the hook will fold back upon the arm and follow the groove 34 one side of which is formed `by a pivoted pawl 35. When the arm is withdrawn the pawl will fall and the forward end of the arm which is jointed at 35 will rise over it and thus ermit the hook to pass over the up er edge ofthe card and to afterwards fall an engage with it as shown in Fig. 6. This arm is given a reciprocating movement by means of the rod 37 the inner end of which' engages the teeth of the main ratchet wheel 12, and is thrown' out vradially thereby by each in turn, and in this manner the main ratchet becomes the source of the general movements of the machine. A return spring 38 withdraws the arm and card when the rod is released by the ratchet.

The inking ribbon 5 mounted upon spools at 7 is automatically fed by means of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 9. Here 42 is an arm which engages the notches 41 in the edgeof the disk in turn and is moved slightly thereby at each movement thereof, and is returned by means of a spring 43. This arm draws with it a plate 44 slidingly movable on the face of the frame at 45. Upon this plate is centrallysecured the spring bar 46, which is provided with a pawl 47 on each end.

Upon each s oo shaft 7 for the inking ribbon is place a ratchet wheel 49, and the spring pawls 47 can be brought into engagement with each of these in turn by means of a bar 50 provided with the pins 51, which ensince the device is adjustable to operatev either spool.

1nF1 s. 1, 2 and 9 an apron 53 formed preferaby of transparent material such as mica, or Celluloid Vis laid over the disk upon which to place the envelops to be addressed. This apron is secured in the rear to an angle bar 54 so that it lies closely over the disk, and the cards can be read through it. An o ening 55 in the apron registers with the str1 er.

At Y is seen a rod which engages the pawl 13 at Z and by means of which it can be tem orarily removed from contact with the ratcliet wheel 12-when it is desired to reproduce the same impression more than twice.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l 1. 1n an addressing machine or other said casein the order in which they fall,

printing device em loying printing cards the combination Witii al horizontal table, of a.

rotatable disk thereon provided with spaed openings adapted to receive a printing card and convey the same upon the table, a vertical-card receptacle arranged over the path of said openings, in which said printing cards are adapted to lie horizontally and to fall'one at a time into said openings, an inking ribbon y arranged over the path ofsaid openings., a pressure lever and p aten arranged to register with said ribbon and opening over which it table havin an o enin re isterin with g g g g each opening in sai disk in turn and with said o en case, 'substantially as described.

2. n an addressing machine, the combination of, a table, a circular disk thereon provided with spaced openin ls adapted to receive rintiiig cards, aA vertical storage receptacle 'ocated over the path of said o enings q in which said cards are adapted to 1e horizontally, and to fall one at a time by into said openings, an inking ribbon over the ath o said openings, Ia receiving case for t -e used cards located underneath the path of said openings,v the said table having an opening registering therewith, a pres- ,sure lever arranged to register with said inkgravity 'ing ribbon and opening over which it passes,"

automatic means operatively connected with said lever for'rotating'said disk to -bring said openings successively underneath said receptacle and pressure lever and over said receiv-` ing-case, automatically operated means for feeding said inking ribbon, and automatic means for withdrawing the used cards into -through the said openings in said disk an table, substantially as described.`

3. In an addressin machine, the combination of, a horizonta table, a circular rotatable disk mounted thereon, and provided with spaced openings adapted to receive printin cards, a vertical storage receptacle or sai cards located over the path of said openings, said table having an o ening registering in turn therewith, into w ich opening said cards are adapted to fall by gravity an' inking device over the i ath 'of the openings, a pressure lever over t e ath of said openings, a receiving case undlrne'ath the opening in said table automatic means operatively connected with the movement of said ressure lever to bring said openings successively underneath said storage receptacle and pressure 'lever and over said opening in the table ocated and receiving case, and an automatically operated device adapted to withdraw said cards in the order received within said case, substantially as described.

4. In an addressing machine, in combination, a table, a card conveyer rotatable therein, said conveyer provided with openings adapted to receive printing cards, a vertical storage receptacle for said cards, lo-

cated over the path of said openings, vinto which said cards are adapted to fall one at a time by gravity, an inking device over the path of said openin s, -a pivoted pressure lever over the path o said openin s, a ratchet upon said conveyer and a paw upon said pressure lever, whereby the conveyer is rotated by the action of said lever to bring each openin in turn underneath said storage receptac e, the said table having an openingregistering in turn with the openings in said conveyer, a receiving case underneath said opening in said table, and a vdevice ada ted to withdraw each used card int-o. sai case in turn as .it falls through said opening in said table, said withdrawing device beautomatically -operated by said ratchet,

111 sustantial'ly as described.

5. Inan addressin machine, in combination, a stationary tab e and a rotatable card conveyer thereon adapted to receive and carry printing cards having extended edges, said conveyer provided with spaced openings having linear extensions `at one edge 'thereof ada ted to register with extended edges of sai cards, a vertical car-.d storage repath of said openin s,v in which receptacle said printing cards lie horizontally and are adapted to fall by gravity in-to said openings, an inking .device over the path of said open'- ings, a pressure lever pivoted on said table, and adapted to register with said openings in turn, automaticmeans for rotating said conin the conveyer until the outer edges have fallen within the said walls of said case, substantially as described. fr

6. In an addressing machine, in combination, a table, a rota-table u vey'ing device, provide with openingslprinting card conadapted to receive saidcards, a ressure lever, adapted to register with sai Ao enings,

a receiving case for used cards unerneath said conveyer and in which they are designed to fall by gravit an automatic device for ro-v tating said car conveyi device in unison' with ,the movements of t e lpressure llevar, and an automatic device fqr withdrawing 100 ceptacle mounted on said table over the Y M thereon, a series of i Aa apted to engage saidvcards in turn and L lcards on the forward stroke, and means for l, 'in provided with lateral extensions at one draw them into said case as said arml reciprosaid cards into said case in the order in which' they are received, substantially a's described. 7. 1n an addressing machine, in combination, a fixed horizontal table, a horizontal and rotatableQ conveyer pivotally mounted rinting cards, va stora e receptacle above sai conveyer for said car s and from which said cards are adapted to fall by gravit one at a time upon said conveyer at -regu ar intervals, an inking device arranged to co erate with each one of the cards successive y, a pressure -lever adapted to press said inking device into contact with the card underneath said inking device, and a receiving .case 'into which said cards are adapted to fallfby gravity from said conveyer, substantially-as described.

l8. In an addressing machine, in combination, a rotating printing card conveyer provided witli card receptacles in which the cards are loosely deposited, a support on which said conveyer rests, a pressurelever pivoted on said sup ort and adapted to register with said car receptacles in turn, a ratchet wheel on said conveyer, and a pawl on said pressure lever adapted to operate said conveyer in unison with said arm, a receiving case for said cards after they have been used, into which said cards are designed to fall in a vertical position and a reciprocating arm' under said support adapted to engage said ratchetlat one end and provided with a hook upon the other end, said hook adapted to engage said cards and to with.

cates; substantially as described.

9. ln a device for loading a receiving case with cards, said cards having lateral projections thereon, in combination with the case upon' the side walls of which said projections' are designed to rest and upon which they are adapted to fall one at a time by gravity, a reci rocating arm, a hooked end thereon,

draw them back into the case, means for fold# ing said hooked end so as notA to engage said periodically reciprocating said arm, substantially as described. i

10. Aln an addressing machine havinga ta ble and a rotating card conveyer mounted thereon, said conveyer havin card receiving openings, the combination t erewith of an open case underneath said conveyer,- and adapted to receiveone card at a time asthey fall fromsaid openings in turn, s'aid cards be-4 si e ladapted to rest u on the side walls of said case, a longitudinaly reciprocating arm over said case, a. hook thereon adapted to engage one of said cards on the rearward stroke and Withdraw it -into -said case, but arranged to release said card on its forward stroke, means for reciprocating said arm, and a desamas vice for retaining-tem orarily -the inner side of the card while in't e conveyer until the outer edges have entered said case, substantially as described. y u

ll. 1n an addressing machine, in combination, a rotatable conveyer provided with openings for a printing card, said card having lateral .extensions and said openings corresponding in shape therewith, a sup ort for said conveyer. having an opening wit which said openings in said conveyer register in turn, a receiving case underneath said support, 'said case provided with vertical sides upon which said lateral extensions of said cards are adapted to rest as the cards fall thereon by gravity, a plate adapted to temporarily retain the inner edges of said card until the outer edges'have fallen within the case, a pivoted bell crank attachment for said plate, a reciprocating arm and hook upon said su port adapted to engage and withdraw sai cards into said Lcase one at a time, but not in engagement with said cards on the outer stroke, a pressure lever adapted to register with the openings in saidv conveyer, and for periodically operating said bell crank and said card withdrawing arm in unison with the movementsof the conveyer, substantially as described.

12. The' combination with a rotary card conveyer provided with openings to receive printing cards and a support therefor having a vertica opening, of a ratchet device for rotating said conveyer', a bell crank pivoted u on said support and a plate thereon adapte to temporarily cover a portion of said o enin in said sup ort, the said bell crank a' apte to enga e t e teeth of said ratchet device in turn an to be operated thereby, and a return spring therefor, substantially as described.

' 13. In combination in an addressingvmachine or other printing device, a'rotary card conveyer having an interrupted movement,f and having openings provided'with lateral extensions, and adapted to -receive printing cards Vhaving corresponding Llateral 'extensions, a support therefor having an opening adapted to register in turn with the openings in said conveyer, a card receiving case under- `neath said opening in said support upon the side walls of which said card extensions are designed torest, a reciprocating arm bearing a terminal, pivoted hook, adapted to engage said cards in turn and Withdraw them into said` case, said hook adapted to fold longitudinally of the arm on the forward movement thereof, so as not to engage said cards, an inclined groove in the said support and a pivoted dog therein formin one side thereof,y whereby said pivoted hook is raised out of engagement'` with said cards on the forward strokev and folded longitudinally of the said arm, and a` device operatively connected with the rotating conveyer, for reciprocating said arm coincidently With the nterru ted movement of the conveyer, .substantially as described. f

14. In an addressing machine, a rotatable, horizontal conveyer, adapted to retain print- ,v ing cards at regular intervals thereon, a central pivoted axis and a horizontal'support for said conveyer, a pressure lever, pivoted upon said support exterior to said conveyer, and a return spring therefor, an inking device arranged to pass over one of said cards u on the conveyer 1n line With the stroke of said pressure lever, and located between said lever and said conveyer, a ratchet Wheel mounted upon the under side of said conveyer, and a s rmg paw] pivotally secured to said pressure ever and adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a device-for lifting said paWl to avoid alternate teeth of said ratchet and a return spring for saiddevice, substantially as described.

' 415. In combination, in an addressing machine or other printing device provided With a -conveyer containing spaces for printin cards, a sup ort therefor, a ratchet Whee u on the said rotatable card. conveyer rovided with the same number of teeth as t ere are cardA spaces on the conveyer, va second ratchet Wheel having the same number of teeth-'and having alternate teeth raised above the teeth of said first namedfratchet wheel,

u and a spring normally separating said Wheels,

a pawi adapted to engage both ofsaid ratchet W eels only When they are brought to ether, means for bringing said yratchet Whee s into close engagement with each other, and a pressure lever pivoted upon said support, and 

